The Western New York Flash (1-2-1) could get a big lift in Saturday’s 7:35 home match at Sahlen’s Stadium against unbeaten FC Kansas City (2-0-1) because United States national team midfielder Carli Lloyd says she’s “ready to go” to make her Flash debut. The woman who scored the winning goal in the gold-medal game for the Americans in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Lloyd has been out since mid-March after she suffered a broken bone in her shoulder playing for the Americans in the Algarve Cup in Portugal. The Delran, N.J., native whose attacking style and strong foot should bolster the Flash attack said Wednesday night she was recently cleared by doctors working for the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“I feel really good, strong, rejuvenated, healthy,” the 30-year-old said. “I’m going to contribute in any way that I can, how ever many minutes (Flash coach) Aaran (Lines) wants to put me in for, on Saturday. I’ll be ready to go.”

Flash coach Aaran Lines wouldn’t say how he might use Lloyd or if she’d definitely be on the 18-man game day roster, but added: “Carli Lloyd available for selection that’s wonderful for the team.”

WNY has been off since a 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC on May 1. Even though she has been able to run over the past month and keep her stamina up, it’s unlikely she would start. Midfielder Sarah Huffman, who has been sidelined all season with an knee injury, also has been cleared to play. While every other team in the new National Women’s Soccer League was originally allocated three U.S. national team players, the Flash received only two – Lloyd and hometown star and reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, Abby Wambach. They started with a 1-0 loss at Sky Blue FC and 1-1 tie at Washington before losing 2-1 to Boston and beating Sky Blue, 2-1, at home.

Lloyd played in Women’s Professional Soccer with Chicago (2009), Sky Blue FC (2010 when she was injured most of the season) and 2011 with Atlanta. Her 43 international goals are the third most for a U.S. player who has played exclusively midfield for the Americans. She knows she’ll have limitations early on, but also knows there is only one way to work those out. “It’s a case of getting match fit and that’ll come in a game or two, and I’ll feel golden by then,” she said.

Leave a Reply

Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo